The Perry Panthers didn’t have defending Medina Invitational Tournament and state champion Jose Rodriguez in the lineup at this year’s MIT.

They didn’t need him to dethrone defending tournament champion Lakewood St. Edward.

With Tommy Genetin (106 pounds), Jake Newhouse (120), David Bavery (126), Tony Dailey (160) and Isaac Bast (170) all winning their semifinals, Perry had almost wrapped up the team title by evening. When Newhouse, Bavery and Dailey delivered individual championships, the Panthers had officially earned their first MIT crown since 2008.

Perry’s 230 points were more than enough to topple the runner-up Eagles, who scored 200, and a tough Claymont team that piled up 199 points.

Newhouse and Dailey came up especially huge for Perry. Each defeated No. 1-seeded wrestlers for their title.

Unseeded, Newhouse knocked out Brunswick’s Josh Heil with an 11-4 decision of last year’s third-place state finisher at 106.

Third at Medina last year, Dailey beat Hudson’s Michael Coleman 5-2 for his first MIT title. Coleman was fourth in Columbus at 160 last year.

The top seed in his class, Bavery won by forfeit over Wadsworth’s Darrin Gilkerson. It was Bavery’s second championship and the fourth time he placed in the top four at MIT.

Genetin and Bast both ran into top-seeded state champions in losing their final match.

Both Austin Phillips (145) and Casey Sparkman (152) went 5-1 to collect thirds for the Panthers.

Jackson’s Justyn Bostic was the only other Stark County wrestler to reach the finals. The Polar Bears 132-pounder won three narrow decisions en route to squaring off against Willard’s Major Moore, who turned the tables with an 8-5 decision.